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Rumbaka is already 21 y.o. and he hasn't won any significant tourneys, yet; mostly local/domestic & 1 GP-level tourneys..Taufik, when he was Rumbaka's age, had already reached the AE Final & won the AG MS title and INA Open tourneys..

LCW did not win his major tournament (Taipei Open) until 2004, when he was 22. I hope Hayom can beat Boonsak today and go on win the Taipei Open at the age of 21. Peter Gade also won his first major tournament, again Taipei open as well as HK and German open, at the age of 21.

Well, i wont disagree with you, that Hayom is no Taufik. But at least, ATM looks like he's INA best hope in securing the tradition of having best players. From Rudy Hartono (70s) to King/Icuk (80s) to the era of Alan Budikusuma/Joko/Arbi/Hendrawan (90s) generation and to TH (00s) era, INA never sort of producing WC. SDK should have taken the mantle, but its so unfortunate that injury prevented him to be better (maybe same can be said to Chen Jin). Hayom, OTOH looks like to fit the bill, he's tall, fast, has a stinging powerful smash (from what i can see from youtube when he plays Bambang), also have the right people/club around him.

In LD case, there should not be a worry for China to find his replacement. He would/may not be as good as LD but at least will be very2 good. I dont know much about Chinese junior players but im sure among 1.3 billion people surely there is one talent.

off topic:
LCW won his first major tourney when he was 21 y.o., in the 2004 Malaysia Open. The CHN Taipei Open was later in the year, after he just turned 22.
Gade won those major tourneys when he was only 20 (Gade was born in the month of December and those tourneys most likely occur before December). He was also a WJC winner in Doubles.
At best, i would say Hayom is going to be another Sony DK. But even for Sony, he already won the Asian Championship MS title when he was 18 and 19 y.o. Much more accomplished than Hayom.
Hayom's description of being tall, fast, powerful smash are just that. He still has to prove his worth...remember he will be 22 y.o. later this yr..

Technology is something that everyone has equal access to in todays day an age. It makes an equal playing field so how would that give some1 any chance for dominance via technology????

Originally Posted by Bbn

Are we admitting that some dominant players are actually unique athletes and can only appear once in a while?

It's like saying that racquet technology, sports science, training etc etc is still not enough to produce a great dominant athlete?

Great athletes are unique and become legends, even surpassing time.

Lin Dan will pass on,like all legends before him. Kids of the next generation will probably doubt his abilty and unique

qualities, just like other fashion items.

Sure there will be great players in future but will they be as dominant in their eras as say Lin Dan, Yang Yang,

Tang Xian Hu etc etc?

Well, Lin Dan must thank the advantage of Video Technology and Badminton Live Broadcast which will keep the memory of his legendaryness very much alive unlike most of his predesessors... most which survive solely on 'hear-say', title-record books' and some grainy low def videos if any...

Food for thought... Would we have revered ZJH as much as we still do now if his AE match (trashing) of Joko was not tapped???? I'm sure our reaction would not quite be the same.

In countries where the grassroots systems lay greater emphasis on physical activity, group activity and sports for young people, they will benefit more by bringing out more competitive professionals.

In countries where there is no organized emphasis backed up by local and national governments in partnership with associations, and where kids now spend more time with their Nintendos and Warcraft games, you will find the exception. That is what LCW is for Malaysia, I am sad to say.

That is why China will find a way to create new champions. There is a political and national will, and they throw all their resources behind this will.